Abstract: An ink-jet printer which can carry out high speed image formation and which can avoid image failure due to a defective nozzle includes a first printing head to emit ink particles, said first printing head being a line-type head in which a plurality of ink-jet nozzles are arranged in a line, and a second printing head to emit ink particles having a same color as that of the ink particles emitted by the first printing head. Alternatively, the ink-jet printer may include a printing head to emit ink particles, a nozzle checking device for detecting a defect of the ink-jet nozzle mounted in the printing head, and a driving unit for moving the printing head in a line direction.

Abstract: A method of introducing nitrogen into a melt for use in producing a nitrogen-doped silicon single crystal by the Czochralski method includes adding a silicon material to a vessel, such as a quartz crucible, adding a nitrogen-containing powder, preferably silicon nitride powder, to the vessel, and heating the vessel for a time sufficient to melt the silicon material and to dissolve the nitrogen-containing in the silicon material in order to form the melt. A nitrogen-doped silicon single crystal is then produced from the melt by the Czochralski method by pulling the silicon single crystal from the melt with a seed crystal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for growing large diameter silicon crystals using the Czochralski (Cz) method, wherein the neck section of the crystal is significantly strengthened to eliminate the risk of breakage in the neck section, by providing a heat shield assembly which is located adjacent to the neck section and ascends in conjunction therewith to force the cooling gas directly onto the neck section of the silicon ingot.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for growing large diameter silicon crystals using the Czochralski (Cz) method, wherein the neck section of the crystal is significantly strengthened to eliminate the risk of breakage in the neck section, by providing a heat shield assembly which is located adjacent to the neck section and ascends in conjunction therewith to force the cooling gas directly onto the neck section of the silicon ingot.

Abstract: In a color image forming apparatus, an image retainer, a charger, a plurality of developing devices and a cleaner are made in one unit. The unit is dismountably supported in a housing so that the unit can be moved out from a first position at which the unit is set in the housing to a second position at which jam disposition is conducted. When the unit means is placed at the second position, a part of the apparatus is used to cover the image retaining surface at the transfer section.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to a photoreceptor so that an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor is developed with the developer. The developing apparatus comprises a developer conveyer, having a rigid surface, for conveying the developer to a developing zone; a developer layer-thickness regulator, shaped like a bar and having a rigid surface portion of the curvature radius between 0.5 mm and 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of the developer to be conveyed to the developing zone; and a supporter for supporting the developer layer-thickness regulator.

Abstract: A method of forming a multicolor toner image on an electrostatic latent image carrying member wherein developer containing a carrier and toner is transported to a developing region on a cylindrically shaped outer sleeve member of a developer transporting unit. Inside the sleeve there is provided at least one pair of magnets, the magnetic poles of which face the inner surface of the sleeve and are so arranged as to be rotatable, relative to each other, around the center axis of the sleeve. The amount of transported toner is regulated so that the amount of toner on the sleeve [mt], in mg/cm.sup.2, the peripheral speed of the image surface [V.sub.d ] and the peripheral speed of the sleeve member [V.sub.sl ] satisfy the following formulas:.vertline.V.sub.sl /V.sub.d .vertline..times.mt.gtoreq.0.4 mg/cm.sup.2.vertline.V.sub.sl /V.sub.3 .gtoreq.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of regulating the thickness of developer layer formed on a developer-transporting means by transporting the layer to a layer thickness-regulating means disposed so as to face with the developer transporting means, pressing the layer by the layer thickness-regulating means so that the layer thickness-regulating distance of the pressing portion between the layer thickness-regulating means and the developer-transporting means can be made substantially equal to the diameter of single developer particle, and allowing the layer to pass through the pressing portion while keeping the layer thickness-regulating distance substantially equal to the diameter of single developer particle.

Abstract: A stabilizer selected from alkaline earth metal hydroxides, oxides and silicates and alkaline earth metal salts of higher fatty acids and an antioxidant are incorporated into a resin composition comprising an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer and a propylene resin or a carbonyl group-containing thermoplastic resin. The stability of the resin composition is improved, and deterioration of the resin composition such as gelation, discoloration or reduction of the gas barrier property is prevented when this composition is heat-molded into a vessel.

Abstract: A polypropylene resin composition is provided by incorporating a metal salt of a fatty acid and the oxide or hydroxide of an alkaline earth metal, each, in an amount of 0.05-1 part by weight based on 100 parts by weight of polypropylene. The polypropylene resin composition shows excellent thermal processing stability even when subjected to remelting and extrusion molding after mixing of a scrap recycled from the production of multi-layered containers or sheets each of which is formed of a gas barrier layer made of nylon or an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and another layer made of a polypropylene resin composition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a cleaning device arranged on the outer periphery of an image retainer, and bringing into and out of abutment against the image retainer, wherein the cleaning device comprises a first cleaning member and a second cleaning member arranged downstream of the first cleaning member in the moving direction of the surface of the image retainer. A cleaning operation of the second cleaning member against the image retainer is conducted according to a time at which the cleaning operation of the first cleaning member against the image retainer is conducted.

Abstract: An electrostatic reproducing apparatus wherein a detecting device for toner image density on the charge receptor and an exposure device are provided between the developing device and the charging device, a discharge current of the charging device and/or the quantity of light irradiated onto the charge receptor from the exposure device can be changed according to information from the detecting device. A detecting device for developing current at the time of development is provided in the developing device, a discharge current of the charging device can be changed according to information from the detecting device. A detecting device for a surface potential on the charge receptor after formation of the electrostatic latent image is provided, a discharge current of the charging device can be changed according to an output signal from the detecting means.

Abstract: A method of controlling the luminous intensity of a fluorescent lamp of the reproducing apparatus characterized in that a first stage for detecting the amount of light from the fluorescent lamp is linked with a second stage for controlling the lamp current of the fluorescent lamp by use of an output corresponding to the detection output of the first stage as the input. A luminous intensity controlling apparatus for fluorescent lamp of the reproducing apparatus characterized in that the fluorescent lamp is a cold cathode type fluorescent lamp, and luminosity detection device for detecting the amount of light from the cold cathode type fluorescent lamp and lamp current control device for controlling the lamp current of the cold cathode type fluorescent lamp using an output corresponding to the detection output of the luminosity detection device as the input are linked with each other.

Abstract: A novel photosensitive composition including a photoconductive cadmium sulfide-group compound and a water-soluble prepolymer capable of forming a network structure by cross-linking, the composition being applied as a photosensitive layer of a photosensitive article for electrophotography having a conductive substrate.

Abstract: In an electrostatic image reproducing system, the developing unit or cleaning unit comprises a first magnetic brush having a first revolving element which revolves on a first revolving axis, and a plurality of magnets inside the first revolving element. The first revolving element is adjacent to an image recording body and confronts the image recording area of the image recording body. A second magnetic brush unit is axially adjacent to the first magnetic brush unit for attracting and transferring developer, the second magnetic brush unit including a second revolving element having a second revolving axis therein which is substantially colinear with the first revolving axis. The second magnetic brush unit does not confront the image recording area of the image recording body.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic copying machine in which a developing device is disposed adjacent a photosensitive drum for distributing particulate developer over the rotating drum surface to develop an electrostatic image thereon, a sealing member of an elastic material is provided between each end wall of the drum lying substantially perpendicular to the drum surface and an adjacent side wall of the developing device to prevent leakage of developer particles about the drum.

Abstract: The distance between the photosensitive drum and the developing sleeve of a copier is kept accurately constant by confronting surfaces on the mounting structures. The confronting surfaces can be in the shape of a circular arcs whose centers are in the center of the corresponding drum or developing sleeve.

Abstract: Actuation of a prefatiguing lamp is selectively controlled in accordance with the measured time interval between successive copying operations. In substantially continuous copying where the measured interval is less than a first predetermined time period, no prefatiguing illumination is provided. Where the measured interval exceeds a second, longer predetermined time period, full illumination is provided. When the measured interval is between the first and second predetermined periods, partial illumination is provided by appropriate reduction in the operating voltage impressed upon the prefatiguing lamp.

Abstract: An improved developing device includes a rotatable sleeve, a reservoir from which developer is available for image development, a hopper containing fresh replenishment toner, a plate for scraping used developer from the sleeve and for directing it into a conduit in which it is mixed with fresh replenishment toner, and at least an opening in the conduit from which replenished developer comprising used developer mixed with fresh toner is returned to the reservoir in a substantially uniformly mixed condition for use in subsequent image development.

Abstract: A photoconductive material of a fine crystal of a cadmium sulfide-type photoconductive compound, on the surface of the crystal a film-forming compound having a dehydrating function such as an isocyanate compound is deposited. The photoconductive material is employed for forming an electrophotographic material or a photo-cell.